Motor switch protective means



MOTOR SWITCH PROTECTIVE MEANS Filed June 15, 1940 FIG.1

INVENTOR ROYAL LEE ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1 941 MOTOR SWITCH PROTECTIVE MEANS Royal Lee, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Lee Engineering Research Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 15, 1940, Serial No. 349,708

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to switch protective means and to motor control systems embodying the same.

Regulators or governors including speed-responsive switch means with intermittently engageable contacts have been used to a considerable extent with electric motors of small size,

particularly those of the series or universal type,

for maintaining a constant motor speed. Certain forms of such regulators embodying centrifugal switches are disclosed in my United States Patents 1,630,394 and 1,767,146, issued May 31, 1927, and June 24, 1930, respectively. In some instances, motors equipped with speed regulators are connected in circuit with additional switch means for controlling motor starting and stopping.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved motor control system wherein a speedresponsive switch and a motor starting and stopping switch have their contacts protected by simple but eiiective spark suppressing means common to both switches, thus avoiding the necessity for separate protective means for these switches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motor control system of this general type wherein the same spark suppressing means serves to protect the motor starting and stopping switch and a plurality of selectively eilective speed-responsive switches.

A further object is to provide a motor control system which will minimize electrical disturbances on the supply conductors.

The-invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating certain embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a motor control system arranged in accordance with theinvention, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a modified form of motor control system including a plurality of selectively effective speed-responsive switches.

In the drawing, l designates an electric motor of the series or universal type having an armature H and field windings l2, the motor being adapted for operation on either direct current or alternating current from line conductors or supstarting and stopping the motor.

switch of the general type shown in the abovementioned Patents 1,630,394 and 1,767,146.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. i, the centrifugal switch is designated generally by H and includes a rotatable disk l5 driven by the motor and carrying a pair of current collector rings l6 and ii. A centrifugally actuated switch unit' 18 is carried by the disk and comprises a pair of relatively movable contacts l9 and 20 arranged in ofi-center relation to the disk axis, as by means of respective cantilever leaf springs 2i and 22 mounted on the disk and electrically connected to the collector rings l1 and I 6, respectively. The contacts are preferably formed of tungsten or other resistant metal. If desired, the speed-setting of the switch may be adjustable as by means of a set-screw 23 for adjusting the fiexural stress on .the spring 2i. In cases where adJustment of the speed-setting is desired while the motor is operating, the adjusting means shown in the above-mentioned Patent 1,767,146 may be used.

Connected in series with the centrifugal switch 14 and motor windings is a control switch 24 for The control switch includes cooperating contacts 25 and 26 and is preferably of a relatively simple type in which the contact 25 is mounted on a defiectable cantilever leaf spring 21. The control switch may be operated in any suitable manner, as by means of a switch-opening plunger 28 displaceable by a cam 29. The cam is preferably of the rotary type and is here shown to be carried on a rotary shaft 30.

A brush 3| bearing on the collector ring I6 is connected by a conductor 32 to one of the motor armature brushes, and another brush 33 bearing on the collector ring I! is connected by a ings will form choke coils or reactors serving to prevent or minimize the transmission to both line conductors iii of electrical disturbances caused by the operation of either of the switches. The contacts of the centrifugal switch are shunted by a resistor 36 which is either adjustable or fixed in value and which carries part of the motor current. In the case of an alternating current motor, the resistor may in some instances be replaced by an equivalent choke coil or'reactor. The resistance value of the resistor 36 is not critical, and a suitable value for any I particular motor can readily be found by experiment.. In general, the resistor may besuch as to carry a relatively large part of the motor current, especially when the resistor is used with a motor intended to operate at a single constant speed and at a substantially constant load. In certain cases, however, the resistor may have such a high resistance that it will pass only a small part of the normal motor current.

The motors of certain types of machines, such as power-driven adding machines, are ,required to start and stop frequently, for example, at intervals of one or two seconds. For this service, it is desirable to provide a relatively simple form of motor control switch,such as that shown in Fig. 1, rather than a quick-action or snap switch, in order to minimize the danger of breakdown. In a machine of this type, the switch-operating shaft may be in the form of a suitably actuated cam-shaft which opens and closes the switch at the proper instants. In certain-other types of machines, such as kitchen mixers, the rotary switch-controlling cam 29 may form a part of the speed-setting mechanism for the centrifugal switch.

The contacts of the centrifugal switch It and control switch 24 are protected by spark sup-' pressing or limiting means comprising a condenser 31 and the resistor 36 cooperating therewith. The terminals of the condenser are connected to the conductors 32 and 35 so that the condenser shunts the portion of the motor circuit including both of the series-connected.

the control switch 24 to admit current to the motor, the motor current flowing through the then closed centrifugal switch contacts I8 and 20. The motor accelerates to a critical speed at which the spring-biased centrifugally actuated contact I9 separates from the contact 20, thus reducing the motor current and causing the motor speed to drop slightly.' The contacts then re-engage, causing the motor speed to again increase slightly, and the cycle of operation is repeated. In practice, the contact l9 vibrates at a high frequency, for example, 50 to 300 1 cycles per second, and the motor speed remains,

substantially constant. While the centrifugal switch is operating, the condenser 31 is'in shunt across the centrifugal switch contacts and resistor 36 by way of the then closed control switch 24. When the centrifugal switch ope the induced volt-age which is developed causes current to flow into the condenser 31 and through the resistor 36, thus limiting the magnitude of this voltage and limiting or preventing sparking or arcing at the brushes and collectorrings and at the centrifugal switch contacts, as well from the condenser is limited to a low value, thus avoiding damag'e'to thebrushes and collector rings and to the centrifugal switch contacts and control switch contacts. When the control switch as preventing stressing or puncturing of the motor insulation. During the interval in which the centrifugal switch is open the condenser dis-' charges to a somewhat lower terminal voltage- 24 is opened to stop the motor, the condenser In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the motor-driven centrifugal switch is designated generally by Hi and includes a rotatable disk 15' carrying thereon a plurality of switch units l8a, lab and I adapted to operate at different speeds, these switch units being indicated by "low speed, "medium speed, and high speed, respectively. Each of these switch units is similar to-the switch unit l8 of the Fig. 1 device. .The contacts 20 of all the switch units are connected to a common collector ring It carried on the disk, and the contacts IQ of the switch .units are connected to respective collector rings Ha, H17, and Ho.

A brush 3| bearing on the collector ring I6 is connected by a conductor-32 to one of the motor armature brushes, and another brush 33a bearing on the collector ring Ila is connected by 'a conductor 34 to the contact 25 of the control switch 24, the other contact 25 of the .control switch being connected by a conductor 35 to one end of one of themotor field windings l2. The low speed centrifugal switch unit No and control switch 24 are thus connected in series between one of the armature brushes and one end of one of the field windings, thus placlng these switches in series with the motor windings.

A brush 33b bears on-the collector ring IIb for the medium speed switch unit I81) and is connected to the conductor 34 by a switch 38. Another brush 33c bears on the 'collector ring Ilc for the high speed switch unit I80 and is connected to the conductor by a switch 39. The switches 38 and 39 may be of any suitable type. A resistor 35 and condenser 31 are connected in the circuit in the same manner as in Fig, l, and are common to all of the centrifugal switch units.

The operation of the system of Fig. 2 is generally similar to that of Fig. .1. When the motor is to be operated at low speed the switches 38 and 39 are left open, whereupon the centrifugal switch unit lg'q will control the speed of the motor. For operation of the motor at medium speed, the switch 38 is closed, thus bringing into action the 'centrifugal switch unit IBb. During operation of the motor at medium speed the contacts of the low speed switch unit Ito remain open. In a similar .manner the switch 39 is closed to bring into action the centrifugal switch unit I80 and to thus cause the motor to operate at high speed. The resistor 36 remains shunted across the selectively efiective centrifugal switch units. The condenser 31 mini. mizes sparking at the contacts of the control switch 24 and also at the contacts of each of the selectively effective centrifugal switch units,

a and the resistor forms a. discharge path for the condenser at each of the selected speeds. The condenser further serves to protect the contacts of the speed-selecting switches 38 and 3G. In mang'instances, thelatter switches may be of a. quick-break type, such as the toggle type, to further prevent deterioration o! the contacts.

Certain embodiments ofthe invention have been shown and described, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in combination, on electric motor, a speed regulator for sold motor including o, switch for opening and closing a circuit of the motor, a resistor connected in shunt with sold speed regulator switch, e control switch connected in serice with said soeed regulator switch to start and stop the motor, and e condenses-connected in slum-.1; the gscrtionoif'seid cimiut'lncludins'coth of switches to limit c eansing the contacts of said switches when either of solid switches is opened, the electrical connections between ssid condenser and sold switches having e relatively low inductance, and said resistor forming a dis charge path for said condenser Toy woy oi. control switch. .t

2. in combination, it work circuit, a centrifu gal switch in said circuit, a resistor connected in shunt with said centrifugal switch, n control switch in said circuit in'series with said. centrifugal switch, and a, condenser connected in shunt with the portion of said circuit including both of said switches to limit sparking at the contects of sold switches when either of said switches is onenedthe electrical connections be tween said condenser and said switches having a relatively low inductance.

3. In combination, an electric motor, a speed responsive switch for opening and closing a circult of the motor to regulate the motor speed, a control switch to start and stop the motor and connected in said circuit in series with said speed-responsive switch, and sperbsuppresslng means for said switches comprising a condenser connected in shunt with the portion of the circult including both of sold switches and further comprising a, resistor having s shunt connection with said condenser, the electrical connectlons between said condenser and said switches having a relatively low inductance.

4-,. In combination, on electric motor adapted to be connected to supply conductors and hav ing windings connected in series, a speed-responsive switch for sold motor connected in series with said windings at a point between said windings, as control switch to start and stop the root 2' connected in series with said speed-responsive switch oi; e, [mint between said windings, seid windings forming choke coils to minimize electrical disturbances on the supply conductors incident to the operation of either of sold switches, and spark-suppressing means for sold switches comprising a. condenser connected in shunt with the portion of the circuit between said windings and including both of said switches and Iurther comprising a, resistor having a shunt.

noun LEE. 

